Apparatus for the sterilization and sterile filling of vessels and the like



APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION AND STERILE Aug. 13, 1935. G, GEBHARDT 2,011,217

FILLING OF VESSELS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1. 1931 Jjwezziaz -f Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION' AND STERILE FILLING OF VESSELS AND THE LIKE l Georg Gebhardt, Kreuznach. Germany Application June 1, 1931, Serial No. 541,499 In Germany July 25, 1930 .5 Claims. (01. 226-68) In beer-cellar and wine-cellar management it is known for a long time to sterilize casks and bottles by injecting into them such an amount of sulphur dioxide corresponding to the size of the [respective casks or bottles. If'transport casks into the cask and the contents thereof.

This drawback has been overcomeby the presentinvention by which it is rendered possible to carry out the sterilization, preferably by means of sulphurous acid, only] after the'filling devicehas been applied to the cask and the filling tube has been introduced into thesame to the required depth. Only then the requisite amount of the sulphurousacid or of the sulphur dioxide is introduced which evaporates instantly and produces a certain over-pressure'in the cask whereder.

l are detail views.

by the sulphur vapor is caused to enter even into the finest pores of the woodenbask wall. After the vapor has acted in this mannerupon the cask wall (or the inner surface of;some other vessel, as the case may be) sterile air isblown through the filling device (which remains connected with the cask or other vessel) so that the sulphur dioxide is expelledfrom out of the cask etc., save a very small and not injuriousremain- Instantly thereafter the sterilized liquid is filled into the vessel. Inthis way are-infection of the vessel and of the liquid is perfectly obviated, as the entire procedure is carried out in one continuous course.. J

. .The improved device for carrying out the improved method is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example on the accompanying. drawing on which Figure 1 is a front-view of the complete device in that position in which the filling takes place, the cask, the filling tube and a cylinder at the top being shown in section; Figure 2 is a side-view of the complete. device, only the cask being shown insection; Figure 3 is an axialsection, in sideview, 'of the top portion of the filling tube, in connection with certainmembers located above said top; Figure 4 is a plan of the members shown inFig.- 3; Figures. 5 and 6 are side views of the uppermost parts of Fig. 4 in two different positions,land.l igs'. '7,v 8' and 9 1. The. filling device ism-of the. usual designj as customary with automatic cask filling devices; it can be reciprocated vertically by means of a cylinder 2 suspended from anysuitable part of l a frame (not shown). A piston 2 enclosed in cylinder 2 can be lifted by means of compressed 5 air. Pressing said device upon the cask, at the bung holeof the same, iseffectedby the dead weight of the device. Introducing the compressed air into the cylinder 2 and permitting it to escape therefrom iseffected with the aid of a 10 valve I; the plug of which can be turned correspondingly. When the plugis in that position in which the compressed air present below the piston 2 can escape, compressed air is introduced into the cylinder chamber above said piston, 5

whereupon thislatter is depressed and all air' present below it is driven out.

- 3 denotes the so-called pressing head which is to be placed upon the bung hole and. closes it tightly. This head is actuated indirectly by the intermediary of the filling tube 4 which is rigidlyconnected with the pistonrod 6 of the piston 2 by means of a so-called filling head composed of the members I0, l6, and [8 which are more fully described hereinafter., At the filling tube 4 is an abutment member 1 which when being lifted lifts in turn the pressing head 3, andwhen it is lowered places this head upon the bung hole, whereafterthe filling tube is moved downwardly until it has attained its lowermost position. Tighteningthe head 3 on thebung hole is effected by.the weight of the connecting rod 23 which is rendered somewhat heavier by an additional annular dead weight 5 surrounding the cylinder2 K 5,:

In the interior of the filling tube 4 is another tube 8, the lower end of the which is provided with a closing valve 9for said tube 4. To the upper end of this tube is attached a member ID forming part of'the casing. and enclosing a rubber dia- 40 phragm l l which is connectedalso with the inner tube 8. This diaphragm H serves on the one hand for the yieldable'tightening of the tube 4,

'and'on the other hand as a lifting member that is operated by the pressure of the liquid and tightens 5 the filling. valve 9 with respect to the filling tube 4.

The part lfl'has a lateral lug I! through which the liquid to be conveyed into the cask or other vessel is supplied in known manner from a container located on a higher level. At the upper endiof the inner tube Bis the so-called sterilizing head l3 which is designed as a casing and is provided with the injection valve 14 that is a diaphragmvalve'for the disinfecting agent, as well scavenging, filling, and head applying operations.

3.. Apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels with liquor, comprising a pressing head having a passage therein, means for holding said head against the fill openingof the vessel, a filling tube adapted to extend. through said head into the vessel, an inlet tube extending through the filling tube for introducing a sterilizing agent into the vessel and for introducing a scavenging agent into the vessel which is evacuated from the vessel by means of the passage, and means for controlling the times and duration of the sterilizing, scavenging, filling, and head applying operations.

extending through the filling tube for introducing a sterilizing agent intothe vessel and for introducing a scavengingagent into the vessel which is evacuated from the vessel by means of the passage, means for controlling the times and duration of the sterilizing, scavenging, filling and head applying operations, said means including a valve on the inlet tube cooperating with a valve seat in the filling tube, and means for sliding the inlet tube relatively to the filling tube.

5. Apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels with liquor, comprising a pressing head having a passage therein, means for holding said head against the fill opening of the vessel, a filling tube adapted to extend through said head into the vessel, an inlet tube extending through the filling tube for introducing a sterilizing agent into the vessel and for ininlet tube in a predetermined sequence ,inciden tal to the movement of the filling tube.

GEORG GEBHARDT. 

